K-Pop Takes Center Stage in Protests Against Yoon Suk-yeol... “Lightstick” and “A World Reunited”

As the impeachment crisis surrounding President Yoon Suk-yeol shook Korean society, K-pop music and Lightstick became central elements of these political protests. The impeachment rallies held throughout December in front of the National Assembly and in Seoul Square shifted away from traditional candlelight protest formats to resemble K-pop concerts. The transformation began dramatically on December 7 at the entrance of the National Assembly. Organizers played K-pop tracks such as Girls' Generation’s “A World Reunited,” aespa’s “Wish Flash,” and Rosé & Bruno Mars’s “Apartment” through speakers. Participants sang along to the lyrics, moved to the rhythm, and the colorful lights from their Lightstick illuminated the scene in the darkness. When National Assembly members entered the plenary hall, the area was filled with an enthusiastic atmosphere typical of a K-pop concert. On December 14, the moment the impeachment resolution against President Yoon Suk-yeol was passed, the song playing was Girls' Generation’s “A World Reunited.” This track, released as the debut song for Girls' Generation in August 2007, initially received little attention. The music video, which depicted girls pursuing their dreams as pilots, baristas, and dancers, was seen by some K-pop fans who expected a more intense concept as somewhat simple. However, it has been continuously reevaluated by K-pop fans as a song conveying excitement and a spirit of challenge tied to the identity of “girls.” After the 2016 protests at Ewha Womans University, it gradually evolved into a form associated with folk music. In these recent impeachment rallies, it functioned as a tool for “rediscovering messages of hope through music amid repeating cycles of history.” The changes at the protest sites went beyond merely choosing music. Women aged 20 to 30 made up the largest proportion of participants, and diverse groups including sexual minorities and people with disabilities joined together to sing “A World Reunited” in support of democracy. This phenomenon was connected to the protest culture developed by sexual minority communities at Seoul Square’s Queer Culture Festival each year. It resulted from K-pop fans not merely consuming music as a trend but actively spreading the messages shared within their community. K-pop idols also broke their silence and voiced their opinions. CHAEYEON of IZ*ONE stated on an online fan platform, “Am I not in a position to talk about politics? I am a public figure, so I must speak up.” YOUNGAE of GOT7 said, “I am grateful to face these difficult times not alone but together, and I hope we can create change together.” Some idols showed solidarity by providing food and hand warmers to the protesters. Although K-pop stars had previously avoided political issues due to strict neutrality norms, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law and the impeachment crisis broke these norms. K-pop’s global influence was also highlighted in this incident. Foreign media described the impeachment rallies as resembling K-pop concerts, drawing attention to Korea’s unique protest culture. Academically, experts in Korean studies noted that K-pop fan culture “connects community spirit with politics,” analyzing that the female-centered organizations of K-pop fans reflect Korea’s history of resistance against gender-based violence. Meanwhile, the South Korean government aims to develop Seoul into a top-tier tourist destination for K-pop fans but is concerned about the impact of these large-scale protests and political instability on tourism numbers. However, the Minister of Culture emphasized the continuity of cultural influence by stating, “Korean content is a major trend that cannot be ignored regardless of who is in power.”